Case Study: Vietnam Electricity slashes substation modernization costs with SEL

SEL Helps Vietnam Electricity Slash Substation Modernization Costs

Vietnam Electricity (EVN), an electrical utility in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, needed to modernize one of its 500 kV substations, a large site with four 500 kV and ten 220 kV feeders. The traditional copper-based approach required about 280,000 meters of copper conductors, 12 workers, and 120 days to commission, with material and installation costs nearing $650,000 per substation.

Working with integrator Applied Technical Systems Company Ltd. (ATS), Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories (SEL) modernized more than 30 EVN substations by increasing the use of fiber optic communications and reducing copper by placing SEL relays in the yard closer to primary equipment. The SEL solution saved EVN $495,000 on one project, cut copper conductor use by 80 percent, reduced installation time by 75 percent, and lowered material costs by 77 percent, including reducing copper from 280,000 to 56,000 meters and commissioning time from 120 days to 30 days.

Vietnam Electricity (EVN)